Canada to bar entry to all foreign nationals except Americans

#CanadaToCloseItsBorders; #CanadaPM; #JustinTrudeau; #COVID-19; #CBSAToEnhancedScreening

Ottawa, Mar 16 (Canadian-Media): An announcement was made today in a news conference by Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau  that  one of Canada's many efforts to stop the the spread of COVID-19 to close its borders to all travelers except to Canadian citizens, permanent residents or Americans, media reports said.

Justin Trudeau. Image credit: Official website

Air crew, diplomats, immediate family members of citizens and, U.S. citizens would be exempted from the above rule and that air operators will be required to complete a basic health assessment of every passenger based on guidelines from the Public Health Agency of Canada.

However, Trudeau added that no one with symptoms will be permitted to board a flight to Canada.

Effective March 18, said Trudeau that international flights will allowed to land only at the international airports in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver, in order to enhance screening.

New border controls will not apply to trade and commerce in order to keep Canada's supply chains open.

"That border is absolutely vital to the daily lives of the people who live on both sides of that border,"  said Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland

Everyone arriving in Canada from another country, except essential workers, including air crews and truck drivers, would be asked to self-isolate for 14 days, Freeland said.

All travelers seeking entry into Canada would undergo enhanced health screening and any one suspected to be ill will be referred by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers  to public health authorities for further evaluation.

#COVID19: New enhanced measures continue to be added at all of #Canada's international airports including these new screening questions for ALL travellers arriving from ANY international destination. #FlattenTheCurve pic.twitter.com/kGZaDPt28N

— Canada Border Services Agency (@CanBorder) March 16, 2020

The border measures include: Enhanced officer presence at major points of entry to carry out public health screening; handing of instructional handouts to all travelers arriving in Canada, display of increased signage at all ports of entry; Filling out Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) coronavirus form, handing of mask kits with instructions to travelers of concern.

Canada is faced with about 375 presumptive and confirmed cases of COVID-19.